HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22710, 24 October 1935, Page 7

HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME

LABOUR'S PROPOSALS OUTLINED BY MR NASH (Per United Press Association) HAMILTON, October 23. Speaking at Hamilton last night, Mr Walter Nash outlined Labour's proposals for a national healtii insurance hiruouiu. He said that Labour had pledged itself to work in co-operation with the friendly societies to institute a service to provide the following facilities:— (1) To give every citizen the right during ill-health to call in a doctor. (2j To give every citizen the right to consult receive the services of specialists. ~ . (3) To provide all drugs, medicines, surgical and optical supplies necessary for the restoration and maintenance of health. (4) To arrange for the reorganisation of- the hospital system and provide for maternity nursing and other necessary treatment (5) To supply all dental services and requirements, (6) To extend the home nursing service to provide the necessary attention to mothers. Mr Nash added that Labour's plan would provide for laboratory services and the payment of recognised fees to medical practitioners. It was reasonably certain to provide every possible requirement at a cost of less than a shilling a week per person, and the Labour Party would provide a subsidy to ensure that the service mentioned would be available to every family. Disease, he said, represented not only human suffering, but waste, and its prevention and cure was in the interests of both the individual and the nation.